Wrapping device and method



Feb. 21, 1967 A. HEILBRUNN 3,304,688

WRAPPING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed March 26, 1964 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 g a 2 l 5 Q I m (\2 l\ ATTORNEY F 1967 A. HEILBRUNN 3,304,688

WRAPPING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed March 26, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IFHIIIII I III HIllllllllllllllIIIIHIHHI ll IIIHIIIIIIIIIHIH k lll 'M 5mm ATTQ R NEY 21, 1967 A. HEILBRUNN WRAPPING DEVICE AND METHOD 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 26, 1964 n w we q R m NA I Wm fi If m W mm n H E E E= mfi ,1

ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1967 A. HEILBRUNN 3,304,688

WRAPPING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed March 26, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR flZ'Fi-ea Heilbrunrz ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1967 A. HEILBRUNN WRAPPING DEVICE AND METHOD 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 26. 1964 |NVENTOR .fllfred Heilrauzn ATTORNEY Feb 21, 1967 A. HEILBRUNN 3,304,688

WRAPPING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed March 26, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR fllf'i'ed ffeb'l I'LUZIZ W/ war/2w ATTORNEY ilnited States Patent York Filed Mar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 354,973 Claims. (Cl. 5332) This invention relates to a wrapping device, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for encircling an article in a wrapper. Still more particularly, this invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for encircling an article in a wrapper so that the wrapper is caused to conform to the surface of the article, to provide a generally tubular conformation of cross section corresponding to. the cross section of the article, with one edge of the wrapper outwardly lapping the opposed edge of the wrapper, and surrounding the article.

It will be understood that as a result of treatment of the apparatus of the present invention or in accordance with the method of the present invention, the wrapper itself will assume a generally tubular conformation, after which the article enveloped by the wrapper will be processed further by known means which fold and seal the side edges of the wrapper to complete the enclosure of the article.

Accordingly, this invention relates to an improved underlap forming apparatus and method for encircling an article in a wrapper which enables the underlap forming step to be effected rapidly, while the article is being advanced in a linear path over an underneath support surface, so that no gripper means for carrying or handling or lifting the article are required.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to an improved underlap forming device and method for assuring that the wrapper is applied to the article in a wrinklefree condition so that, after the subsequent side folding and sealing steps are effected, a package of improved appearance will be provided.

The invention relates further to an improved underlap forming apparatus which, in its preferred form, avoids the necessity for providing reciprocating parts, with their inherent complexity, difficulty of maintenance, nad agitating effect on the articles to be wrapped.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved underlap forming apparatus and method.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simplified underlap forming apparatus wherein the underlap is formed while the article and wrapper are being moved linearly.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of an underlap forming device wherein, inherently in the formation of the underlap, the wrapper is smoothed and straightened, whereby the wrapper is tautly disposed about the article and is free from wrinkles or creases.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved underlap forming apparatus wherein a plurality of sizes of articles and wrappers, within specified size ranges, may be handled without the necessity for adjustment of the apparatus to accommodate such variations.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an underlap forming device wherein the weight of the article is at all times carried by support surfaces on which the article rests, thereby to eliminate the use of lifting or carrying means as heretofore required, with their inherent crushing or deforming effects on the article.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved underlap forming device wherein the article and wrapper are advanced linearly over an angularly moving or rotating support member or members having a cutout portion or portions for the reception of the trailing and leading flaps of the wrapper, the rotating or angularly moving member serving to tauten and wipe the rear flap against the under surface of the article which has been cleared of the front flap, and maintain the rear flap in a tautened and wrinkle-free condition until after the forward flap of the wrapper overlaps the positioned rear flap.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel method for encircling an article in a wrapper to assure the formation of a taut and wrinkle-free encircled package.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and method for the encircling of an article in a wrapper, to enable said encirclement to be effected at maximum speed and without changing the direction of movement of the article, thereby to minimize vibratory movement of the article, with its possible consequent damage to the contents thereof.

Still other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description, rendered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an underlap forming device in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 5A, 6A and 7A are plan views, partially diagrammatic, showing the position of operative portions of the underlap forming apparatus in relation to an article and wrapper at various stages in the formation of the underlap;

FIGURES 5B, 6B and 7B constitute partially diagrammatic vertical sectional views of underlap forming apparatus in relation to an article and wrapper being processed at the stages corresponding respectively to FIG- URES 5A, 6A and 7A, said views being taken on the centerline of the apparatus;

FIGURES 5C, 6C and 7C constitute perspective views looking upwardly from a position beneath the underlap forming apparatus showing the relative positions of the apparatus, article and wrapper at positions corresponding, respectively, to FIGURES 5A, 6A and 7A;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view taken from beneath the article and showing the article after processing by the underlap forming apparatus and method.

Briefly described, the invention incorporates a conveyor or like means which advances an article over which a wrapper has been suitably draped, in a predetermined path. The wrapper is applied to the article so that portions engage the top of the article and other portions define a front flap, parts of which lie adjacent the front surface of the article and parts of which are pressed against the bottom of the article. Additionally, a rear flap hangs behind the article and is rearwardly curved, with portions lying adjacent the rear face of the article and portions trailing the article and riding against the article support surface. A rotating member or members are disposed in the path so that the conveyor urges the bottom of the article across the upper surface or surfaces of the rotating members. The rotating members, which preferably constitute disk-like elements, are provided with cutout portions, the members being rotated in timed relation so that in the course of rotation, the cutout portions are aligned with each other to define an aperture which extends transversely with respect to the path of movement of the article and wrapper, the width of the transverse aperture defined by the cutout portions being in excess of the width of the wrapper.

The article and wrapper are advanced in timed relatio to the rotation of the disks so that the article is supported with its bottom surface resting on the disks.

Due to the timed movement of the conveyor, the article is moved so that the front and rear flaps of the wrapper are disposed in registry with the cutout portions of the disks, when the cutout portions of the disks are aligned with each other, thus to permit the flaps of the wrapper to fall through the transverse aperture provided by the cutout portions and lie at a level beneath the bottom of the article.

The disks are rotated at a peripheral speed in excess of the linear speed of advancement of the article, with the adjacent peripheral portions of the disks moving in the same direction as the direction of movement of the article.

The article, as it traverses the disks, is gently pressed against the upper surfaces of the disks, which upper surfaces are preferably formed of material having a low coeificient of friction.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the front flap portions will hang clear of the disks and the rear flap, after it has passed through the transverse aperture, will be urged against the under surface of the article by the portions of the disks which lie in trailing relation to the cutout portions. Further, by reason of the angular movement of the disks, the central portion of the rear flap will be pressed against the central portion of the article while other portions of the flap hang below the level of said disks, the continued movement of the disks serving progressively to press the laterally disposed hanging portions of the rear flap against the under surface of the article.

By the outward and forward components of movement of the counter-rotating disks, the application of the rear flap is effected by a gradual forward and outward pressing, accompanied by a stretching, which action is uniquely effective to free the applied bottom flap from any wrinkles.

The article, in the meanwhile, is advanced over a stationary table portion, which preferably includes a wedgelike entry element. The wedge-like element, which is in trailing position in respect of the disks, engages against first a central portion of the downwardly hanging forward flap and progressively urges first central and then outwardly disposed portions of the forward flap against the bottom of the article in overlapping relation as respects the rear flap which, as previously noted, has been positioned against the bottom of the article by the action of the disks. The wedge-like conformation of the entry portion of the stationary table serves to apply the front flap while gradually spreading the latter, thus serving to rid the front flap of wrinkles.

Preferably, the spacing of the entry portion of the stationary table and the disks is such that a central portion of the front flap is lapped over a central portion of the rear flap in advance of all portions of the rear flap being disposed against the under surface of the article by the disks. When the article is completely advanced to a position over the stationary table, it will be noted that all portions of the front flap are outwardly lapped over the rear flap, whereupon it will be observed that the article is fully encircled in a substantially wrinkle-free, tubularly configurated wrapper.

The encircled article may then be processed in accordance with known means to close the open side edges of the tube and form said side edges into the side flaps of the article. The forward flap may be sealed to the rear flap either by an adhesive applied prior to the outward lapping action, in any conventional manner or, where the materials permit, by a heat seal formed after the outward lapping has been effected.

It will be observed from the prior general description that the underlap forming device, in its preferred form,

4 employs steps of bowing both the forward and the rearward flaps of the wrapper and applying first a central portion of said flaps against the under surface of the article in advance of all portions of the flaps being disposed against said surface. Similarly, in the preferred form, a central portion of the front flap is lapped over a central portion of the rear flap in advance of all portions of the rear flap being disposed against the bottom of the article.

The novel method incorporating the steps hereinabove set forth has been found to be highly effective in the production of a wrinkle-free, encircled article.

Referring now to the drawings wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment, 10 represents a conventional conveyor assembly wherein articles 11, each having a wrapper 12 draped thereover by conventional mechanism (not shown), are advanced by engagement of the rear face 13 of the articles with moving pusher members 14, which members extend transversely to the path of movement of the articles and span spaced parallel flights 15 of conveyor chain. The wrapper is maintained in fixed position with respect to the articles 11 by any desired means, such as by pressure means (not shown), which exert a pressure against the top of the wrapper, urging it against the top of the article, which pressure is suflicient to prevent relative movement of the wrapper 12 and article 11 as the under surface of the wrapper slides along the entry table 16.

Optionally, the pushers 14 may be recessed, as at 14a, FIGURE 2, to accommodate inwardly extending guide means (not shown) supported on the frame of the conveyor 10, which guide means are conventional in their operation and which may engage the side edges of the article and the wrapper.

The conveyor 10 is driven by a power take off chain 20, which may be connected to any known power source, it being observed that preferably a direct linkage is effected between the drive for the conveyor 10 and the drive for the underlap forming device next to be described, so that a timed relationship between the conveyor assembly 10 and the underlap forming device may be maintained.

The conveyor assembly 10 forms no part of the invention but serves merely to introduce the articles 11, suitably draped with wrappers .12, onto the underlap forming device.

The draped articles 11 are delivered by the conveyor 10 onto the stationary table .30 in position to be picked up and advanced by a second conveyor or equivalent advancing means 32. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the conveyor 32 includes a driven shaft 34, the opposed ends of which are journalled in the side frame plates F, F of the device. The shaft 34 is keyed to a gear 38, meshed with a gear 39 carried by drive shaft 40, which shaft is likewise journalled in the side frames F, F, and is rotated by the driving force imparted by power take off chain 20 to a drive sprocket 20 made fast to the shaft 40.

It will be readily understood that any suitable drive means may be employed which will deposit the articles 11 on the table 30 in a desired timed relationship, to be picked up by the conveyor 32.

The conveyor 32 includes laterally spaced chain flights 42, 44, which flights are supported at one end by laterally spaced drive sprockets 46, 46 keyed to the shaft 34. A plurality of spacer bars 48 extend transversely between the flights of chain at equally spaced intervals along the length of. the chain and carry depending pusher fingers 50. Optionally, the fingers 50 may be mounted to the bars 48, to permit adjustment of these pushers laterally toward and away from each other, which adjustment will be recognized to enable the pushers to be adapted for articles of a variety of widths.

It will be understood that the conveyor 32 operates in timed relation with respect to the conveyor '10 so that as articles are deposited on stationary table 30, the pushers 50 engage behind the articles or, more accurately, behind the rear flap of the Wrapper and advance the same in the direction of the lower flight of the chain 42. As the articles pass to the conveyor 32, the wrapper 12 is pressed against the upper surface of the article 11 by the adjustable hold down members 52, 52, see FIGURE 3.

The hold down members are preferably mounted on standards 54, 54, fixed to the frame to be both vertically and laterally adjustable with respect to such standards. Brackets 56, 56 support the hold down members 52, 52, which brackets in turn are adjustably secured to inwardly directed support fingers 58, 58, which fingers are adjustably mounted to the standards 54, 54.

It will be understood that the hold down members 52, 52 are in the form of longitudinally extended rails which extend substantially the entire length from the entry portion of the table 36 to and over the delivery or exit table portion 66 of the underlap device, thereby providing downward pressure against the upper surfaces of the wraper throughout the area mentioned.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the articles as advanced along the table 36 have the wrapper portions 12 draped around them, to incorporate a rear flap 12a and a front flap 12b, the front flap being initially disposed against the under surface of the articles. The rear flap trails the article and is curled rearwardly and lies against the upper surface of the table 30. The articles are advanced by the pusher members 50 over a pair of counter-rotating disks 62, 64, next to be described in detail, which disks function first to permit the rear flap 12a and, in the illustrated embodiment, also portions of the front flap 12b, to fall beneath the level of. the article and thereafter to smooth the rear flap against the under surface of the article in a position underlapping the front flap.

The disks 62, 64 are driven in counter-rotation to each other by driving mechanism 66, which mechanism is linked with the drive mechanism for the conveyors 16 and 32. Drive chain 68 is linked with sprocket '70, which sprocket is keyed to the main cross shaft 40. Drive chain 68, as best seen in FIGURE 3, in turn drives cross shaft 72, through sprocket 73 which is keyed to the shaft 72. The ends of the cross shaft 72 are journalled on the frame members F, F.

The shaft 72 carries spaced bevel gears 74, 76, which gears mesh with mating bevel gears 78., 86, respectively. The gears 78, 80 are respectively keyed to vertical shafts 82, 84, which are journalled in portions of the stationary frame.

The shafts 82, 84, at their upper ends, removably carry the disks 6d, 62, respectively, which are keyed to rotate with the shafts.

It will thus be evident that as the shaft 72 is rotated by the driving connection of sprockets 73 and 70, the bevel gears 74, 7 6 will rotate shafts 82, 84, through bevel gears '78 and 86', respectively, so that the disks are rotated in opposite directions, with the adjacent peripheral portions of the disks rotating generally in the direction of movement of the conveyor 32. The axes of shafts 82, 84, respectively, are aligned normal to the direction of movement which is imparted to. an article advanced by the conveyor, the shafts being spaced equally from the center line of the conveyor.

The upper surfaces 62a, 64a of the disks 62, 64 are optionally but preferably coated with a substance having a low coemcient of friction, examples of preferred substances being Teflon and nylon.

The upper surfaces 62a, 64a are disposed in a horizontal plane and in coplanar alignment with each other and with the upper surface of the entry portion 3d.

The disks define cutout portions or slots, the slots of disk 62 being referred to as A, A, and the slots of disk 6 being referred to as B, B. While in the illustrated embodiment each disk is shown to. have two slots, it will be understood that only a single slot need be provided and that a device wherein the disks may have three or more slots is also feasible.

For simplicity in the ensuing description, the portions of the disks which define the generally radially extending leading portions of the slots will be called the leading edges C, C, and the forwardly aligned portions defining the trailing edges of said slots will be referred to as the trailing edges D, D.

In trailing position with respect to the disks 62, 64, there is disposed the stationary table 66, the upper surface of which is co-planar with the upper surfaces of the disks. The table 66, as best seen in FIGURE 4, includes a generally wedge-shaped receiving surface 92, having arcuate walls 94-, 96 of a radius of curvature slightly greater than the radius of curvature of the disks. The arcuate walls 94, 96 are preferably disposed in close proximity to and in trailing position with respect to the disks 62, 64. Preferably, the leading surfaces of the portions 92, 94, 96 are beveled, as best seen in FIGURE 4, to facilitate the passage, without interruption, of articles shifting from the disks onto the exit table portion 60.

The trailing walls 36a, 30b of the table- 36 are similarly arcuately formed, to permit the terminal end of the table 30 to fit snugly adjacent and in between the disks 62, 64.

The operation of the device will next be described.

In FIGURE 1, articles 11 on the conveyor 16 are shown being advanced by the conveyor toward the table 30. The articles each have a wrapper 12 suitably draped thereover and positioned in predetermined relation with respect to the articles by any suitable known draping mechanism.

As the articles pass onto table 30, the pushers 50 of conveyor 32 engage behind the rear faces of the articles, urging portions of the rear flap 12a against the rear faces of the articles, and with the rear flaps thus pressed against the articles, advance the articles and wrappers together along table 36 toward rotating disks 62, 64. The position of the wrapper with respect to the article is maintained during travel along table 30 and over the disks 62, 64 by guides 52 which are adjusted to press the under surface of the articles against the upper surface of the disks.

Alternatively, as will be readily recognized, the downward wrapper retaining and pressing functions may be performed by an element movable with the chain.

The pusher members 50 carry the article and wrapper in a linear path across the table 30 and onto the counterrotating disks 62, 64. As the article begins to traverse the disks, the front flap 12b lies under the article and the rear flap 12a rests against the table 30 or the disks 62, 64 and is thus maintained in a trailing position of the article.

Referring now to the series of diagrammatic FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the article is advanced by the pushers 50 from a position in which the article is entirely supported on the table 30 to a position in which the article is entirely supported on the table 60. Between these beginning and end positions, the article will be partly supported on the disks and partly on one or the other of tables 30 or 60, and depending on the article size, the article may be entirely supported upon the disks at an intermediate position between the tables.

The article is advanced by pushers 56 to the position of the lefthandmost article viewed in FIGURES 7A and 7B, whereat it will be observed that the front edge of the article is supported on the disks 62, 64 and the rear edge of the article is supported on the apex 30c of table 36. In this position, the front flap 12b of the wrapper underlies the article, the very rearmost edge of said flap being disposed over cutouts A and B of the disks 62, 64, respectively, which have been rotated into partial alignment to define, at a leading position, an aperture of a transverse extent greater than the width of the wrapper.

As best shown in FIGURE 7B, the rearmost edges of the front flap is thus permitted to extend through the aligned slots aforesaid. The rear flap 12a remains in trailing position of the article, supported on the apex 30c.

As the article continues to be advanced from the left hand position shown in FIGURE 7A toward the positions of FIGURES A, 5B and 5C, continuously increasing portions of the slots A and B become aligned, permitting further increments of the front flap 12a to fall through the slots. As the article continues to be advanced, the rear end of the article, and finally the rear edge of the rear flap 12a is advanced over aligned slots A and B, thus permitting the rear fiap as well as the front fiap to extend below the level of the disks. With continued rotation of the disks and advancement of the article toward the position of FIGURES 5A, 5B and 5C, the trailing portions D, D of slots A and B of disks 62, 64 will catch up with and engage against first central portions, and subsequently outwardly disposed portions of the rear flap 1211 which extend through the slots.

At the position of FIGURES 5A, 5B and 5C, the front flap 12b hangs through the aligned slots of the disks but, due to the wedgedike configuration of the leading portion 92 of table 60, which leading portions of the article now overlie, the front flap which engages against the portion 92 is formed to a generally trough-like configuration, with the rounded base of the trough being progressively urged against further portions of the bottom of the article as the article advances. As the article continues to advance from the position of FIGURES 5A, 5B and SC to that of FIGURES 6A, 6B, and 6C, it will be seen that the rotation of the disks, which are :moving at a higher peripheral speed than the linear speed of the article, will have caused the trailing portions D, D of the cutouts to urge or wipe further laterally disposed portions of the rear flap 12a against the under surface of the article, so that in the position of FIGURES 6A, 6B, 6C, the entirety of the rear flap, which coincides with the rear of the article, lies against the under surface of the article.

It should further be noted that at some point of advance of the article from position prior to that illustrated in FIGURES 5 to that of FIGURES 6. the rear flap, by the operation of the trailing portions defining the cutouts in the disks, will have formed the rear flap to a trough-like configuration, urging the central base of the trough against the under surface of the article. In such intermediate position, the central portions of the front flap will have been urged into outwardly lapping relation of the central portions of the rear flap which are disposed against the under surface of the article, under the influence of the wedge-like configuration of the leading portion of table 60. As the article moves from the position of FIGURES 6 to that of FIGURES 7A (right hand article), 78, 7C, it will be seen that the rear flap has been entirely disposed against the under surface of the article and gradually widening portions of the front flap are disposed in outwardly lapping engagement over the rear fiap.

It will be readily recognized that continued forward movement of the article which is shown substantially encircled in FIGURES 7A, 7B, 7C, will serve completely to 'fold the portions of the front flap which register with the article over the comparable portions of the rear flap.

In FIGURE 8 there appears a perspective view taken from beneath an encircled article, showing the positions of the article and wrapper as all portions of the article pass beyond the disks 62, 64 and onto the table 60.

It should be noted that the sliding frictional engagement of the rear flap with the surface of the disks, together with the outward and forward rotational components of force exerted by the disks against the rear flap, result in the exertion of simultaneous forward and lateral stretching force vectors against the rear flap. Such forward urging and lateral stretching substantially completely eliminate any tendency to the formation of wrinkles in the rear flap, which tendency is further diminished by the fact that first central portions of the rear flap are pressed against central portions of the under surface of the article while laterally outwardly disposed portions of said fiap are left hanging free. A highly desirable wiping or Wrinkle-erasing action is thus assured since there is no obstacle to forward stretching or lateral spreading.

In contrast, a forwardly moving rear flap applying device which applies pressure along a line extending transversely across the entirety of the under surface of the article does not permit a lateral spreading of the wrapper and, hence, any wrinkles would be pressed into creases.

A further factor in enhancing the ability of the apparatus to produce a wrinkle-free wrapping lies in the action of lapping a central portion of the front flap over a wider portion of the rear flap which has already been disposed against the under surface of the article. By the overlapping aforesaid, the front flap, in effect, clamps progressively wider portions of the rear flap against the under surface of the article, to eliminate any possibility that wrinkles eliminated from the rear flap by the spreading action of the disks may reform.

It will be further appreciated that the wedge-like configuration of the trailing table 6%) acts in a manner generally similar to the spreading action of the disks in rem-oving wrinkles from the front flap.

A further highly desirable feature of the invention lies in the ability of the apparatus to process articles of a range of sizes without the necessity for making adjustments. Thus, assuming a constant height or depth of the article, it is possible to encircle, without any adjustment whatsoever, articles within a range.

For instance, on a device accommodating nine inch radius disks, articles having a transverse dimension of from six to twelve inches and a front to rear dimension of from three to five inches can be processed without adjustment. Moreover, to process other sizes of articles, it is merely necessary to remove one set of disks and substitute a further set.

In general, articles having greater front to rear dimensions require the use of disks having wider slot portions, whereas for smaller articles the slot should be smaller, to prevent the article from falling through the slots. As an example, it has been found that a device equipped with nine inch radius disks can handle articles ranging in size from three inches by six inches, to seven inches by twelve inches, through the use of three sets of disks. In the specific example noted, one set of disks handles articles ranging from three by six inches to five by twelve inches, another set handles four by eight inches to six by twelve inches, and another set handles six by eight inches to seven by twelve inches. In the three given examples, the arcuate dimensions of the slots at the periphery of the disks equals about 22 /2 45 and 67 /2 respectively, although these dimensions are not considered critical.

It will be noted from the illustrated embodiment of the invention that the portion of the disks forming the trailing edges of the slot defining cutouts are so formed that the portion of the disk adjacent the periphery leads as respects the remaining portions of the trailing edges. Such arrangement contributes to the spreading action of the rear fiap since the center of the rear flap is engaged by the portions of the trailing edge adjacent the periphery of the disks prior to all portions of the rear fiap being thus engaged. Also, this arrangement provides an early central support for the under surface of the article adjacent its trailing edge as the article crosses the disks.

While the device has been illustrated in conjunction with disks each having two diametrically opposed cutout slots, it will be understood that each disk may employ a single slot or that three or more slots may be formed in the disks. Also, it will be appreciated from the preceding description that certain of the advantages of the invention may be secured with the use of a single disk having a slot of greater length than the width of the wrapper. The invention is susceptible of other variations and, accordingly, should be broadly construed within the scope of the appended claims.

across said support surface of said rotating member,

said advancing means moving at a lesser rate than the rate of movement of the portion of said slot means furthest from the axis of rotation of said member, said advancing means and rotating member being moved in timed relation to align said flaps with said slot means as sa d article moves across said support surface, to permit said rear flap and said forward flap to extend simultaneously through said slot means while said article is supported on said surface, guidemeans for pressing said bottom of said article against said support member, and

means for folding said front flap over said rear flap after the latter has been pressed against the bottom of said article by said rotating member.

2. The method of encircling an article in a wrapper which overlies the top of the article and includes front and rear flaps overlying the front and rear faces, respectively, of the article, which comprises the steps of:

(a) linearly advancing said article and wrapper together;

(b) freeing said rear flap to hang beneath the level of the bottom of said article;

(c) pressing central portions of said freed rear flap against central portions of the bottom of said article;

(d) thereafter progressively pressing laterally outwardly disposed portions of said rear flap against portions of said bottom of said article outwardly disposed with respect to said central portion;

(e) outwardly lapping a central portion of said front flap over a central portion of said rear flap after the latter has been pressed against said bottom; and

(f) thereafter lapping laterally outwardly disposed portions of said front flap over portions of said rear flap which lie against the bottom of said article.

3. The method of encincling an article in a wrapper which overlies the top of the article and includes front and rear flaps overlying the front and rear faces of said article, respectively, which comprises the steps of:

(a) continuously linearly advancing said article and wrapper while said article, said front flap and the edge of said rear flap are supported on a surface moving relative to said article;

(b) freeing said rear flap and front flap simultaneously from said surface to hang beneath the level of the bottom of said article;

(c) progressively pressing first central, and thereafter laterally outwardly disposed portions of said freed rear flap against the bottom of said article;

(d) outwardly lapping a central portion of said front flap over a central portion of said rear flap which lies against said bottom in advance of all parts of said rear flap being pressed against said bottom; and

(e) thereafter progressively outwardly lapping portions of said front flap laterally disposed with respect to said central portion over portions of said rear flap which lie against said bottom, to complete the encirelement of said article.

4. A Wrapping device comprising means for linearly advancing an article to be wrapped while holding a Wrapper in contact with an upper surface of said article, said wrapper including forward and rearward portions hanging adjacent the front and rear faces of said article, respectively, means for forwardly bowing said rear flap transversely, to a generally trough-like conformation having a central base, and disposing said base of said trough against central portions of the under surface of said article while other portions of said flap hang beneath said under surface, and means for rearwa-rdly bowing portions of said forward flap to a generally trough-like conformation having a base, and outwardly lapping the base of said forward flap over the base of said rear flap in advance of all portions of said rear flap being disposed against said under surface.

5. In a wrapping apparatus having means for draping a wrapper over a package to cover the top of the package and provide flaps adjacent the front and rear faces of the package, an underlap forming device comprising means for moving the package linearly while maintaining the wrapper in fixed relation against the top of the package, means for supporting said package with said rear flap hanging free, means for transversely bowing said rear flap and disposing a central portion of said rear flap against a central portion of the under surface of said package while other portions of said flap hang beneath said under surface, said last named means being effective progressively to urge portions of said flap to each side of said central portion against said under sur' face, and means for rearwardly bowing said front flap and urging a central portion thereof in outwardly lapping relation over central portions of said rear flap which lie against the under surface of said package, said lapping of said central portion of said front flap over said rear flap being effected by said last named means in advance of all portions of said rear flap being disposed against said under surface.

6. Apparatus for encircling an article in a wrapper which engages the top of the article and presents forward and rearward flaps adjacent the front and rear faces, respectively, of the article, comprising a pair of disks mounted for rotation about vertical axes, the periphery of said disks lying in close adjacency to each other and the upper surfaces of said disks being in coplanar alignment, a slot formed in each said disk, means for rotating said disks in opposite directions in timed relation to align a slot of one disk with a slot of the other disk at least once during each rotation, advancing means for moving said article and overlaid wrapper together over said disks in the direction of a line tangent to the peripheries of said disks at the closest point of approach of said disks, said advancing means operating in timed relation to the rotation of said disks to position said rear flap and said forward flap simultaneously over said slots when said slots are aligned with each other while said article is supported on said upper surfaces, said advancing means moving said article at a slower speed than the peripheral speed of said disks and in the same direction as the direction of movement of the peripheries of said disks at said closest point of approach, means for urging said article against said upper surfaces of said disks, and front flap engaging means in trailing position with respect to said disks for engaging said front flap and urging said flap upwardly into outwardly lapping relation of said rear fiap as said article passes over said trailing position.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said front flap engaging means is generally wedge-shaped, with the apex of said wedge being disposed in leading position with respect to the direction of movement of said article, whereby said front flap will be engaged first by said apex.

8. A device in accordance with claim '7 wherein said apex is spaced substantially equally from the axes of rot-ation of said disks.

9. A device for encircling an article in a wrapper comprising:

(a) a pair of disks having cutout portions extending .to the periphery thereof, said disks being mounted with their upper surfaces in coplanar relation with a pcripheral portion of one disk in close adjacency to a peripheral portion of the other disk;

(b) means for counter-rotating said disks in timed relationship so that a cutout of each said disk is aligned with a cutout of the other disk at least once during each revolution;

(c) advancing means for moving an article, together with an overlaid wrapper, including front and rear flaps leading and trailing said article, in a linear path medially between and normal to the axis of rotation of said disks, so that the bottom of said article engages and traverses the top of said disks, said advancing means being timed with respect to the rotation of said disks so that the rear flap of said Wrapper is aligned with and falls through said cutout portions when said portions are aligned with each other, the peripheral speed of said disks being in excess of the linear speed of said advancing means, the adjacent peripheral portions of said disks moving in the same direction as said advancing means; and

(d) means in trailing position with respect to said disks for outwardly lapping central portions of said front flap over central portions of said rear flap in advance of all portions of said rear flap being disposed against said bottom of said article.

10. Apparatus for encircling an article in a wrapper comprising means for advancing in a linear path an a rticle having a wrapper overlying the top of said article and having front and rear flap members in leading and trailing positions, respectively, of the front and rear faces of said article, a pair of disks counter-rotating in timed relation supporting said article, the peripheral speed'of said disks exceeding the linear speed of said article, said disks including cutout portions positioned to be aligned in the course of rotation to define in said aligned condition a flap receiving aperture extending transversely with respect to the direction of movement of said article, pressing portions on said disks intrailing position with respect to said cutout portions for urging portions of said rear flap extending through said cutout portions against the bottom of said article, and means for outwardly lapping said front flap of said wrapper over the portions of said rear flap positioned against said bottom, said last named means acting first on central portions and progressively thereafter on laterally disposed portions of said front flap to urge the center and thereafter the side portions of said front flap against said bottom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,883,229 10/1932 Bent 53--230 X 2,810,246 10/1957 Cornock et a1. 53-228 2,882,665 4/1959 Cross 53233 3,237,370 3/1966 Ouellette 53-231 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner,

L. S. BOUCHARD, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN UNDERLAP FORMING DEVICE, A ROTATING MEMBER HAVING AN ARTICLE SUPPORT SURFACE, GENERALLY RADIALLY DIRECTED SLOT MEANS FORMED IN SAID SURFACE OF SAID MEMBER, ADVANCING MEANS FOR MOVING AN ARTICLE HAVING A WRAPPER ENGAGING THE TOP OF SAID ARTICLE AND HAVING FRONT AND REAR FLAP PORTIONS, RESPECTIVELY LEADING AND TRAILING SAID ARTICLE ACROSS SAID SUPPORT SURFACE OF SAID ROTATING MEMBER, SAID ADVANCING MEANS MOVING AT A LESSER RATE THAN THE RATE OF MOVEMENT OF THE PORTION OF SAID SLOT MEANS FURTHEST FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID MEMBER, SAID ADVANCING MEANS AND ROTATING MEMBER BEING MOVED IN TIMED RELATION TO ALIGN SAID FLAPS WITH SAID SLOT MEANS AS SAID ARTICLE MOVES ACROSS SAID SUPPORT SURFACE, TO PERMIT SAID REAR FLAP AND SAID FORWARD FLAP TO EXTEND SIMULTANEOUSLY THROUGH SAID SLOT MEANS WHILE SAID ARTICLE IS SUPPORTED ON SAID SURFACE, GUIDE MEANS FOR PRESSING SAID BOTTOM OF SAID ARTICLE AGAINST SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR FOLDING SAID FRONT FLAP OVER SAID REAR FLAP AFTER THE LATTER HAS BEEN PRESSED AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF SAID ARTICLE BY SAID ROTATING MEMBER. 